Sideshow: Monsters send zombies packing

By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: June 25, 2013

Turns out zombies and Superman are no match for monsters. Disney's Monsters University is the weekend box-office winner, according to studio estimates released Sunday. The animated family film, which reunites stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman and their characters from the 2001 hit Monsters, Inc., debuted in first place with $82 million, beating out swarming zombies in World War Z and Superman in Man of Steel.

Brad Pitt's zombie romp, World War Z, overcame negative advance publicity to open in second place with $66 million. Media reports months ahead of the film's opening chronicled its problems, including a revamped ending that delayed its release.

The success of the film means it could be a franchise in the making.

Man of Steel was third at the box office, adding $41.2 million to its coffers and bringing its domestic ticket sales over $210 million in just the second week of release.

The comedy This Is the End, which stars Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jonah Hill as versions of themselves trapped in a mansion during the apocalypse, finished in fourth place, with $13 million.

- Associated Press

QVC to drop Deen?

TMZ.com says that if you're looking to buy Paula Deen's pots and pans on QVC, you'd better move fast. The gossip website quotes a representative of the West Chester shopping network as saying it has "concerns [over] the unfortunate situation," adding, "Please know that QVC does not tolerate discriminatory behavior."

TMZ quotes the QVC rep as saying the network is "reviewing our business relationship with Ms. Deen."

After Deen admitted using a racial slur, the Food Network said it would dump her when her contract expires at the end of June.

Detention anniversary

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has released his first music album, The Divine Comedy, including the single "Dumbass," to mark the second anniversary of his 81-day secret detention by the Chinese government.

The song is meant to reconstruct his detention, which was part of an overall crackdown on dissent in 2011. The album, released Saturday, also has five other songs.